Congratulations on the sale of your home! Below is our seller’s checklist — everything we’ll need from you, and what to expect, as we work together toward your completion date.
Check off items as you go — your progress is saved automatically on this device (but nowhere else).
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Review your title before listing
A good realtor will pull your title before your home goes on the market and check for anything that could slow things down later — things like a deceased owner still on title, an old mortgage that was never formally discharged, or a charge left over from a former spouse. If your realtor hasn’t done this, ask them to. We do our own title review once we’ve been formally hired, which happens after we receive your contract.
Get our name and contact info to your realtor right away
As soon as you have an accepted offer, please pass our contact details along to your realtor so they can send us a copy of your contract without delay. As a general rule, we like to have at least two weeks between the day we receive your contract and your completion date — that gives everyone enough time to do things properly.
Do the intake call with your BC Notary
Once we receive your contract, we’ll set up a call to get the details we need on you and on the transaction. This usually happens two to three days after we receive your contract.
Let your BC Notary know about any trusted helpers or POAs
If someone will be helping you through this process, or if someone will be signing on your behalf under a Power of Attorney, please let us know right away. If it’s a formal Power of Attorney, we’ll need the original document (not a copy) so we can confirm it’s registered in the right place and identify the attorney named in it.
Consider your residency for income tax purposes
If you are, or are about to become, a non-resident of Canada for income tax purposes, there are significant holdbacks and extra tax paperwork with deadlines you’ll need to meet. You will need a good accountant to help you file these tax documents with CRA.
Get your items packed and arrange your movers
Line up your moving company and start packing with enough runway before your completion date. Moving companies can book up quickly around busy times of year, so it’s worth arranging this sooner rather than later.
Cancel your utilities accounts
We suggest setting your cancellation date for the day after your completion date, just in case your deal doesn’t close exactly on schedule. It’s a small buffer that saves a lot of hassle if there’s ever a delay.
Cancel your property insurance
Same idea here — set your cancellation for the day after completion (or whatever date is set out in your Contract of Purchase and Sale, if that’s different). You want to stay covered until the sale has actually closed.
Have your ID ready
Please have two pieces of current, government-issued identification ready. At least one of them needs to have a photo on it.
Complete your ID verification
We’ll send you a link to a secure identity verification service. It’s a quick, guided process, and we’re here if you run into any trouble with it.
Join your video review call with your BC Notary
We’ll go over your documentation with you on a video call, usually about a week before closing. This is your chance to ask questions before anything is signed.
Be in town the week before closing
Please plan to be in town during the week leading up to your closing date, in case we need to meet with you or you need to sign anything in person.
Review your contract for outstanding to-dos
Before closing, take another look at your contract to make sure you’ve done everything you agreed to — things like professional cleaning, removing personal effects, or touching up paint. These are easy to forget once packing takes over.
Come in to sign your “wet ink” documents
A few documents still need an original, in-person signature rather than an electronic one. We’ll have you come in to our office to sign these, usually a day or two before closing.
Know what happens on completion day
Completion day is when the money and title officially change hands. We generally don’t receive the funds until quite late in the day — often too late to turn around and get your cheque to you the same day. Because of that, your funds are usually ready for you on the next business day.
Let your banker know funds are coming
Give your bank a heads-up that you’re expecting to receive funds from the sale, and ask them how to make sure a hold doesn’t get placed on the money once it arrives.
Know we’ll follow up about any holdbacks
If we’re holding back any funds on our file for you, we’ll follow up with you about them roughly a month after closing.